CONCERNS have been raised by Bangor residents about the future of a former builders’ yard after a fire ripped through the site on Tuesday.
Crews from Bangor, Llanfairfechan and Beaumaris were called to tackle a blaze in a single storey building at the former Jewson site in Hirael just before 4pm on Tuesday, August 23.
Yesterday, a spokeswoman for the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the fire had been started deliberatly.
Huge flames and thick black smoke filled the air as residents from the surrounding houses in the Hirael area of the city gathered outside to watch the drama unfolding.
The police also closed the section of the High Street next to the fire.
Dewi Luke, who lives in a house opposite the site, said, he came back from the town when he saw the smoke.
“The people are concerned over the future of the area,” he said.
“It needs knocking down, it’s creating too much attention really.”
Alice Ashworth was visiting her daughter, who lives next to the site.
She also expressed concern about its future.
“There has been a lot of trouble in this area,” she said.
“I do feel sorry for the residents.”
It took firefighters, who were using four vehicles, breathing apparatus and an aerial ladder as a platform for a water tower, until 5.51pm to bring the blaze under control.
The site, which has been vacant since 2008, was the centre of attention in 2009 when police uncovered a large cannabis factory on the premises.
There are plans to turn the site into 162 student flats in seven buildings.
The plans are under consideration by Gwynedd Council, however there have been widespread protests against the proposals from the Hirael community.
Bangor City Council clerk, Gwyn Hughes, said the residents and the City Council wanted to see the site turned into accommodation for the local community.
He said: “There is a huge demand for housing for local people in Bangor.”